‘Temple Talk, Mosque Moves’: BJP Hits Out at Mamata

• BJP alleges Mamata is attempting to sway both Hindu and Muslim voters through coordinated religious projects.
• Roopa Ganguly says the TMC’s temple–mosque narrative is a deliberate political strategy.
• Humayun Kabir’s plan for a mosque on December 6 sparks controversy.
• Political analysts see Mamata’s temple push as an effort to reconnect with Hindu voters.

GG News Bureau
New Delhi/Kolkata, 26th Nov: The BJP has intensified its attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after fresh religious projects announced by the Trinamool Congress triggered political tension ahead of the 2026 Assembly election. The opposition claims that Banerjee’s recent push to construct temples is part of a broader “divide and rule” approach, especially after TMC MLA Humayun Kabir vowed to build a mosque in Murshidabad.

The BJP has long accused the Chief Minister of favouring minority communities and allowing illegal immigration through the Bangladesh border to consolidate her voter base. Former BJP Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly said Banerjee’s temple plans, along with her party member’s mosque announcement, reflect a coordinated strategy to influence both Hindu and Muslim voters.

“She will talk about temples and her team members will talk about mosques. This is a political strategy,” Ganguly claimed.

Her remarks were directed at Humayun Kabir, who said he would lay the foundation of a mosque on December 6, a date associated with the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Kabir said his decision was personal and denied any poll-related motives.

Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, confirmed plans to build a Durga temple in Kolkata’s New Town and a Mahakal temple in Siliguri, where the BJP holds strong ground. The state assembly has already allocated 25 acres of land for the latter.

Political observers believe these religious projects are aimed at re-engaging Hindu voters, especially in northern districts where the BJP performed strongly in 2021, winning 30 of 54 seats. If Banerjee succeeds in reclaiming ground in the north while holding her traditional strongholds, analysts say the BJP could face a fourth straight defeat in West Bengal.